The growth and reproductive performance of fish are influenced by ecological factors. This study investigated the biology of the climbing perch, Anabas testudineus, in relation to habitat. A total of 2,880 climbing perch were collected from three habitats (irrigation canal, swamp and paddy field) in Peninsular Malaysia during the dry and rainy seasons, and their biometric measurements (total length and body weight) and sexual maturity indices were measured. Two-way Classification Analysis (TCA) revealed significant sexual dimorphism in all morphometric parameters, significant habitat effects on fish size, and pronounced seasonal variation in environmental parameters, while condition factor and seasonal effects on morphometrics were not significant. Results showed that body size was largest in fish from irrigation canals during the rainy season, with males averaging 12.84 ± 1.17 cm in total length (32.38 ± 4.4 g body weight) and females averaging 13.70 ± 1.83 cm (52.84 ± 12.54 g), consistent with the upper size range reported for this species. Fish from irrigation canals also exhibited more advanced gonadal development, confirmed by higher gonadosomatic indices (GSI) and histological evidence of vitellogenic oocytes in females and spermatozoa-filled seminiferous lobules in males. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that larger body sizes and advanced gonadal development were associated with higher dissolved oxygen and pH, whereas smaller sizes correlated with elevated water temperature. This study highlights the critical roles of sex, habitat quality and seasonal variation in shaping the growth and reproductive traits of wild climbing perch populations and provides evidence-based insights for fisheries management in tropical freshwater ecosystems.
Aerides odorata Lour. is an epiphytic orchid with commercial potential due to its intriguing flowers. Nevertheless, the flowering patterns of this species have not been investigated. Flower initiation and development are important for plant reproduction because they mark the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, allowing plants to produce flowers and ultimately, seeds or fruits. Besides, floral initiation and development in orchids differ among various species. This work seeks to observe and document the flowering stages and find the optimal maturity stage for Aerides odorata Lour seed pod, which is crucial for in vitro asymbiotic seed germination. Three orchid plants with 2-3 peduncles each were observed daily over five months, every morning (9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.) to record development from spike initiation to full bloom, and subsequently for three months post-pollination until capsule dehiscence. Summarising the information on floral developmental stages involved four main phases: spike formation (considered the first day of the phases), bud initiation, flowering and senescence until seed pod formation. The results showed that approximately twelve significant floral developmental stages were systematically documented, each correlated with time intervals and morphological landmarks. Upon observation, it was noted that each of these species could create a maximum of 22 flower buds per plant. The flower is fully wilted 85 days after being pollinated. In addition, the pollinated flowers transformed into capsules and fully reached maturity after 100 days following pollination. Gaining insight into the floral initiation process in orchid species is crucial for optimising cultivation conditions and promoting successful flowering in these aesthetically pleasing and varied plants..
A preliminary study showed that an ethyl acetate extract of the bark from Beilschmiedia lumutensis (Lauraceae family) exhibited promising inhibition activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase by in vitro assays. Subsequently, this extract revealed three new cyclic polyketides endiandric acids, namely lumutensic acid A-C (1-3). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, FT-IR, HRESIMS spectroscopic data analysis and by comparison with literature data. The molecular docking study showed that lumutensic acid C (3) showed the highest binding affinity and stability with both enzymes, with strong hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, outperfoming the standard drug acarbose. These findings suggest that compound 3 could be a promising candidate for anti-hyperglycemic therapeutic development, providing further insight into the potential of B. lumutensis as a source of bioactive compounds.
Hawksbills' (Eretmochelys imbricata) status in the state of Melaka is continuously being assessed due to Melaka being the only prominent location for hawksbills in Peninsular Malaysia. Over five years of nesting season, results of the survey revealed the cumulative nests collected the most were in Padang Kemunting and Kem Terendak with a range between 400 nests-700 nests yearly. A year-round nesting trend was observed, and the preferable peak period tends to occur between June to August almost every year. The clutch size ranged from 5 to 243 eggs over five years of the survey. An increase in temperature and rainfall amount will influence the increasing number of nests, while humidity and precipitation did not impact the nesting per month. This article presents updated nesting statistics for hawksbill turtles, showing an increase in annual nesting activity over the five-year period from 2015 to 2019 in Melaka, compared to the earlier years of 2013-2014. A greater comprehension of hawksbills' reproductive potentiality under environmental force will aid conservation and management aims.
Blue swimming crabs (Portunus pelagicus) consistently command higher prices in domestic and global markets due to elevated demand. Due to the rising issue of low crab larvae survival, farmers have begun using artificial hormones to increase survival rates and ensure hatchery production aligns with market demands. However, the outcomes of using artificial hormones are concerning, as these compounds pose serious risks to aquatic organisms, humans, and the environment. To address the harmful effects of artificial hormones, efforts are now focused on identifying affordable and ecofriendly plant-based alternatives, such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea), which contains bioactive compounds that could promote crab larval growth and survival. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of spinach in improving the growth performance of P. pelagicus larvae. This was accomplished by enriching Artemia with spinach, allowing it to serve as a nutrient-enhanced live feed. Compounds in the spinach leaf were extracted with methanol and analysed through GC-MS to identify potential growth-related compounds. LC50 analysis (1,000 ppm-2,000 ppm) was conducted on Artemia to determine the optimal enrichment concentration (1,600 ppm) before use in larval feeding. Results indicated spinach contains compounds such as steroids (5.9%), palmitic acid (5.2%), oleic acid (2.5%) and flavonoids (3.6%) that can potentially improve larval growth. Toxicity analysis showed that the 1,600 ppm treatment was the LC50, meaning it is the optimal concentration for Artemia enrichment, delivering the highest amount of bioactive compounds without affecting Artemia survival. Larvae were fed spinach-enriched Artemia (1,600 ppm) and compared with unenriched Artemia (control). The 1,600 ppm treatment resulted in significantly higher survival at various larval stages (Z1-Z2: 82.6%, Z2-Z3: 91.9%, M-C1: 38.1%), shorter intermoult periods for Z2-Z3 (2.9 days), Z3-Z4 (3.1 days), and M-C1 (3.8 days) and higher SGR (M: 22.5% day-1, C1: 24.5% day-(1)). Larval steroid analysis supported these findings, with treatment 1,600 ppm yielding higher steroid levels across all stages (511.63-3953 pg/mL), suggesting that spinach-derived steroids may stimulate moulting and enhance larval growth and survival.
